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Author: Mike Ward

AUSTIN — Newly inaugurated Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will move into his Capitol office for the first time on Wednesday, when he meets with members of his special strike-force investigating contracting irregularities at the state Health and Human Services Commission. Why not today? Aides said the offices are being cleaned up, and the locks are being changed, after the […] …

In his inaugural speech, incoming Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is expected to stress his campaign themes of education reform, tax cuts and holding the line on spending. While advance copies of his speech are not being made available, confidants said Patrick will talk about how Tuesday is “a good day for conservatives,” as a Legislature […] …

AUSTIN — The chairwoman of the state Senate Finance Committee, expressing outrage over a $110 million, no-bid contract at the state Health and Human Services that is the focus of an ongoing criminal probe, on Wednesday pledged to push through changes in state law to block future abuse. “At best, grave mistakes were made. At […] …

AUSTIN — The Texas Senate’s long-standing two-thirds rule that has blocked controversial bills from coming to a vote is likely history when the Legislature convenes in a week, the Upper Chamber’s top Democrat predicted today. Long criticized by Republicans who said the rule gave Democrats a way to prevent conservative GOP bills from being adopted, […] …

AUSTIN — Democrat Wendy Davis, firing back at Republican Greg Abbott after be blasted her for using campaign funds to support a lavish lifestyle, chastised Abbott on Wednesday for spending more than $45 million dollars in taxpayer money on taxpayer-funded travel during his decade in office. “Talk about traveling in style — Abbott spent more […] …

AUSTIN — Michelle Lyons, the former spokesman for Texas’ sprawling prison system, has been granted a trial in her lawsuit alleging she was the victim of gender discrimination in a 2011 demotion that eventually led to her departure. In a four-page ruling filed Tuesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ordered […] …

Calls to increase the minimum wage became the latest flashpoint in the Texas governor’s race on Friday, after Democrat Wendy Davis called for the minimum to be raised to $10. Davis weighed into the national controversy that has fast-food workers demanding a hike to $15 an hour, from the current $7.25 an hour, during a […] …

AUSTIN — Continuing a string of new appeals to voters, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis on Thursday unveiled a plan to expand benefits for veterans and military families in Texas. “Our choices on education will determine our future, but the way we treat our veterans will be the greatest reflection of whether or not we […] …

AUSTIN — As Gov. Rick Perry addressed business leaders in New Hampshire last Friday, he was asked about the two-count felony indictment he’s facing back home. His answer, according to ABC News: “I’ve been indicted by that same body now for I think two counts, one of bribery, which I’m not a lawyer, so I […] …